stevedore

[ stee-vi-dawr, -dohr ]

noun

1. a firm or individual engaged in the loading or unloading of a vessel.

verb (used with object)

, ste·ve·dored, ste·ve·dor·ing.

1. to load or unload the cargo of (a ship).

verb (used without object)

, ste·ve·dored, ste·ve·dor·ing.

1. to load or unload a vessel.

stevedore

/ ˈstiːvɪˌdɔː /

noun

1. a person employed to load or unload ships

verb

1. to load or unload (a ship, ship's cargo, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of stevedore¹

1780–90, Americanism; < Spanish estibador, equivalent to estib ( ar ) to pack, stow ( steeve ¹ ) + -ador -ator

Word History and Origins

Origin of stevedore¹

C18: from Spanish estibador a packer, from estibar to load (a ship), from Latin stīpāre to pack full

Example Sentences

Back in Baltimore, still a slave, he works long hours as a stevedore with his pay going to his owners.

From Washington Blade

In the following December he returned to Manila disguised as a seaman, and stole ashore in the crowd of stevedore labourers.

From Project Gutenberg

From what I was told he was a stevedore and had once been a professional basketball player.

From Project Gutenberg

The man is a stevedore, I guess, and him and his wife used to get drunk regular and carry on up here every night or so.

From Project Gutenberg

I had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo.

From Project Gutenberg

The barmaid was not their sister, nor the stevedore their brother.

From Project Gutenberg